Art on Main still going strong after 2 years

Pat Stamp demonstrates the art of pottery for MP Anthony Rota before he tries his hand at the wheel. Story and photos by Ryan B. Edmunds

Pat Stamp gave MP Anthony Rota a crash course on using a potter's wheel and handling clay before allowing him to try his own hand at throwing pottery Saturday.

"I'm used to working in a much more tranquil environment," laughs Stamp from her pottery set-up outside Art on Main. She was whipping up a pasta dish and making it look easy while the booming sounds of Summer Stroll live bands were coming from next door. This Saturday marked the second anniversary of Art on Main.

"Most people push too hard their first time. They think its strength but there’s strength and there’s control and there's sensitivity." Stamp explains of first time pottery-throwers.

"You don't just wrestle it into place. If you overdo it, it falls out of place." she adds.

"It's the first time I've ever tried it. It was great." said Rota.

"Being downtown it’s nice to see all the stores open, getting some traffic through here." Rota said after washing his hands of the pottery clay.

"I often come in, and I have a deal with Art on Main that I have one of my walls dedicated to local artists. They bring in replacements every so often, so I've got one wall that displays the talent that we have in the area." said Rota.

Although it was looking rough at first, with minimal coaching, Rota managed a vase and later a bowl. The ladies at Art on Main agreed that Rota did quite well for his first time and there was even talk of auctioning off his two creations.

Among those thrilled about the store making it over the two year hump was Bob Alger, Chair of the Downtown Improvement Area.

"It was an economic development and DIA initiative in the first place and we're extremely excited that they're so active and vibrant. They're supplying a service to the downtown core artisans and artists primarily and getting it onto the streets and visible," said Alger.

The DIA, as well as The Business Centre and NECO were part of the founding members of Art on Main.

"They came together to bring art and other culture into the downtown and improve the downtown area. It’s all part of that initiative," said Nancy Slack, Chair of Art on Main.

Slack attributes part of the store's success to the staff and customers that they see regularly.

"We have a variety of staff. We have 25 artists and that is always changing, so it brings people back and back again. Most of our customers are repeat customers."

In addition to the art in Mr. Rota's office, Art On Main also has some of their artists' work displayed at COR Maximus and the Business Centre. Art on Main plans to keep business going strong and have plans in the coming months to unveil an art rental program that would allow people to take some art home and keep it for a few months to decide if they really like it.

"We're launching an e-commerce site so people can shop at the Art on Main website. People can buy things and have them shipped to them all through PayPal." says Stack looking towards what promises to be a bright future for Art on Main.